[03/19/08 - 03:22 PM]Discovery Channel Announces Two New Series That Define 'Adventure Programming'COAL and IDITAROD are both are produced by Original Productions, the team behind Discovery Channel's Emmy-nominated series DEADLIEST CATCH.

[via press release from Discovery]

DISCOVERY CHANNEL ANNOUNCES TWO NEW SERIES THAT DEFINE 'ADVENTURE PROGRAMMING'

-- COAL (Wt) and IDITAROD (Wt) Introduce Viewers to the Risk-Taking Men and Women Who Perform Back-Breaking Feats Underground and In the Wild --

(Silver Spring, Md) � Discovery Channel continues its exploration into and celebration of the fascinating world around us with two new groundbreaking series to air later this year: COAL (wt) and IDITAROD (wt). Both are produced by Original Productions, the team behind Discovery Channel's Emmy�-nominated series DEADLIEST CATCH. From the depths of a Pennsylvania coal mine to the sub-zero temperatures of the icy Alaskan wilderness, Discovery Channel exposes viewers to some of the harshest conditions in the world.

"These new series truly define adventurous programming," said John Ford, president and general manager of Discovery Channel. "We are venturing to some of the toughest places in the world and shining a light on ordinary men and women who are doing extraordinary things. That is the DNA that strings these shows � and all those that air on our network � together. They are incredible stories that deserve to be told."

COAL (wt), which starts production next week, is a six-part series that takes viewers hundreds of feet underground to show what life is like for a group of heroic men in the heart of Appalachia who brave the dangers of coal mines every day. Despite the constant fear, these hard working men are driven to keep the coal flowing � and earn a paycheck that is triple the average in the area.

COAL (wt) is produced for Discovery Channel by Original Productions. Thom Beers and Philip Segal are executive producers, Jeff Conroy is co-executive producer and Jack Walworth is series producer. For Discovery Channel, Gena McCarthy is executive producer.

IDITAROD (wt), which just wrapped production and is slated to air later this year, is a six-part series that celebrates the men and women who participate in one of the harshest races on the planet � The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Viewers will get a rare look into the grueling 1,151-mile race through the subzero wilderness of Alaska, the ultimate test of animal and human teamwork and endurance.

IDITAROD is produced for Discovery Channel by Original Productions. Thom Beers and Philip Segal are executive producers, Jeff Conroy is co-executive producer and Tim Pastore is series producer. For Discovery Channel, Paul Gasek is executive producer.

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications is the world's number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.